Buckle forming machine



July 20, 1937.

A. P. J. volGT ET AL BUCKLE FORMING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 20, 1937- A. P. J. volGT ET Ax. 2,087,490

BUCKLE FORMING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Shes?l 2 3mm/Wow A.`P. J. volGT ET A1.

BUCKLE FORMING MACHINE July zo, 1937.

Filed March 29, 1932 5 shets-sheet :5A

' gwuefntow A PI VOI GT.

L. M STI LL..

July. 20, 1937 A. P. J. VOIGT ET A1. l 2,087,490

BUCKLE FORMING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 2o, 1937.

A. P. J. volGT ET AL 2,087,490

BUCKLE FORMING MACHINE I Filed March 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED sTATEs oFFicE BUCKLE. FoRMTNe MACHINE Application March 29, 1932, Serial No. 601,738

12 Claims.

The invention relates to a machine for making buckles which are particularly adapted for connecting the ties or bands used in confining cot ton or other similar materials.

In forming bales, of material such as cotton, it is essential that the material be conined by suitable ties which can be quickly applied and which will permanently confine the material even when it has been compressed under heavy pressure. The invention will be particularly described in connection with buckles. and ties used on cotton bales, but it is to be understood that the buckles may be used under any desired circumstances.

In the ginning of cotton the bales are formed at the gin in a low density pressure, that is, the bales are of considerable size and the cotton is not compressed under heavy pressure. When the bales are to be shipped any considerable distance, 2O and particularly by Steamship, it is desirable to have them compressed under a high pressure so that they will not occupy so great a volume. With this in mind the bales are placed in a high density press and reduced in size. In order to hold the material in these high density bales it is necessary to have ties and buckles; of great strength. With this in mind, the present invention has been conceived with a view of providing a machine which will produce a satisfactory g() buckle to hold the ends of the bale ties on high density bales.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and economical machine which will form the buckles at a high rate and insure a uniform product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle forming machine wherein all of the steps of forming the buckle are performed automatically and the machine will run at high speed without the services of an attendant.

Another object ofthe invention is` toprovide a buckle-forming machine wherein what is termed a safety buckle is formed, as distinguished from the usual and well known type of C-buckle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the wire from which the buckles are formed is fed into the machine, cut off, and bent into the desired form of buckle by 5o a series of dies which periodically operate so that each die performs its intended function in connection with the forming of the buckle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle-forming machine wherein the parts are 5.3 adjustable to accommodate different sizes of wire to be used in forming buckles of different strength and wherein all of the parts are so positioned that the dies may move to properly support the wire while the same is being bent linto the form of the buckle.

Gther and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine showing the parts in position as the wire enters the machine just previous to being cut off in a length suiiicient to form a buckle.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine seen in Fig. 1, with certain of the parts broken away which are above the general elevation of the machine.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the line 3 3 and li-ii, respectively, of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the feeder wheel used to control the periodic movement of the wire into the machine.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the front of the machine looking toward the incoming wire.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 to ll inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the positioning of the dies and the wire during the steps of forming the buckle.

Figs. 12 and 13 are plan and edge views, respectively, of the completed buckle.

The general construction of the machine is best illustrated in Fig. l wherein the support 2, carries a frame or base 3 which serves as a foundation to which all of the remaining parts of the machine are attached. In order that the description will be best understood the various elements of the machine may be described in accordance with the sequence of operations in forming the buckles.

The feeder mechanism is best seen in Fig. 1 and comprises the guide rollers 9, a plurality of which are mounted on the frame so that the Wire H will pass between them, with a view of straightening the wire. Two of these rollers are positioned on one side of the wire, while theV wheel has a geared portion 'l which meshes witha drive pinion 8, which may be driven by any suitable source of power such as an electric motor or drive belt.

This wheel is of a special construction as best,

Vurged downwardly by the springs I8.

Yfeeder flange I2 has been provided on the side of the feeder wheel 5, and, as seen in Fig..5, this feeder flange is raised slightly above the general circumference of the feeder Wheel.

Fig. 7 shows a section which illustrates the groove III, the feeder plate I2, and the roller I3,Y which cooperates with the feeder wheel in controlling the movement of the wire into the machine. This roller isin the form of Va pinion mounted upon a bracket I5, which is inturn carried by the yoke I6. This yoke is resiliently mounted upon the uprights I1 and is normally In this manner the roller I3 is maintained in engagement withftheV teeth of the feeder Vwheel 5, and the groove 2l) of the roller' I3 is maintainedin alignment with the groove I3 in the feeder wheel. The wire II Vwill be fed intol the `machine due to its contact with these two wheels.

During the major portion of the time the wire is loosely positioned between the grooves Ill and 20 and there is insufficient friction to cause it to be fed forward. However, when the feeder plate I2 comes into engagement with the roller I3 additional friction will be created because of the fact that the feeder plate extends from the circumference of the feeder wheel. The raising of the Wireron the feeder plate will' be resisted by the sp-rings I8 so that additional friction will be caused, thus gripping the wire and Vfeeding into the machine'a length o-f wire equal to the length of the feeder plate I2.

As soon as the feeder plate passes out of contact with 'the roller I3 the increased friction or grip on the wire will be released and inasmuch as the wire is being pulled from a carrier or reel (not shown) it will only be moved into the ma- 'chine so long as it is gripped between the feeder plate I2 and the roller I3. f

As the wire moves into the machine it isintended that a predetermined length will be positioned so that the proper size of buckle will be formed. With this in mind a stop member 25 has been positioned in the machine, see Fig. 2. As soon as the wire has been passed into the machine so that it engages the stop 25 the next 0p- .eration is to cutoff the proper length of wire. To accomplish this cutting operation a blade 21 has been provided which carries a cutter 28. 'This cutte'rrmoves transversely of the wire I I and severs the wire bypassing adjacent the shoulder 29, sothat a square cutj on the'end of the wirev will be insured. The cutter 21 is reciprocated by means of the arm 39, which is driven by a'cam 3|. This cam 3l is causedrto rotate by means of the beveled gears 32 and 33,'which receive their power indirectly from the drive pinion 3 yseen in Fig. 1. n

vThe construction just described is best seen in Fig3 wherein the cam 3l is seen as being mount.- ed on the shaft 32. The arm 331s pivoted atr31 in the nature of a bell crank lever so that the upper end 34 thereof performs a lateral move- `ment to cause reciprocation of ther'cutter 21.

The cam 3I has an eccentric surface 35 thereon which is designed sothat the arm 3U will cause reciprocation of the cutter blade 28 at the proper period during the operation of the machine.

A roller 36 is provided on the end of the arm 30 so that excessive friction will be eliminated. The position of the cutter 21 is adjustable by means of the set screw 38. In order that the arm 30 will follow the eccentric .surface 35, and in order that theV cutter blade 28 will be removed from the path of the wire, a guard 39 has been attached to the face of the cam 3I. ,The roller 36 when traveling on the cam surface 35 will pass between the forward end 40 of this guard and in this manner the cutter blade will be withdrawn.

It is to beunderstood that several of the operations in this Vmachine are performed simultaneously but their description will be given in accordance with their sequence in forming the buckle. The next step after the wire has been out is to grip the wire sothat it may be bentv into the form of the buckle. To accomplish this, a buckle forming die or support 45 has been provided. This support is best seen in side eleva` tion in Fig. Liandcomprises a die or core around which the wire is to be wrapped by the machine. This die is best seen in end elevation in Fig. 8. The reciprocating movement of this die is accomplished by the arm 30, which is the same arm Y which operates the cutter 21. Their simultaneous operation is accomplished by the cross head 46 on the arm 30, which carries the Yformingdie 45.k

This forming die 45moves beneath the wire, as seen in Fig; 8, at the same time that the end 48 of the wire is severed from the stock. It is to be noted, as best seen in Fig. 4, that the forward end of the Vforming die45 is indented as at 49 Vto conform to the inside contour of the buckle, as it is intended that the wire will be wrapped around this forming die during the operation. v

sition so that it may be wrapped around the forming die a stamp or vise member 5,!) is moved downward towardthe wire to grip `the wire and holdV it firmly against the forming die 45. The movement of this vise 5U is accomplished by -a rocker army 5I, which is pivoted at 52 onV the frame of the machine. The forward end of the arm 50 has a finger 53 which ts in the head 54 tocause raising and lowering of this head, The

vise member-50 is adjustably positionedl in the' head and held in any desired'position by means of the set screwsY 55 and 56'. The spring 51 may be used to assist in raising the head and the vise 50 during its periodic operation. The rocker arm 56 is moved by means of a cam 59, which'is also mountedon the shaft 32, and is provided with an eccentric face 60 and a guard arm 6I, which corresponds tothe cam 35 and the guard arm 39 on the cam 3I. The cam 6I) is of a different conm figuration, however, to provide for proper timing of the movement of the vise member.

In order that the movement of the vise member 50 will be maintained in the same plane it passes through an opening 62 in the frame 63 of Y ation is toV wrap the wire aboutY the buckle die 45.

To assist in maintaining the left end 55 of the Wire, as viewedrin Fig. 8, in proper position, and

to relieve the vise 5i) of undue stress, an abutment 56 is provided on the portion 63 of the machine so that as the end 65 of the wire tends to turn upwardly it will come in engagement with this abutment It is to be understood that the abutment 66 is fixed but is slightly above the elevation of the upper portion of the wire so that the wire may be moved into the position shown Without striking the abutment.

The die for performing the wrapping of the wire is seen in section in Fig. 8 at 58, and is arranged to accomplish a rotative movement by being mounted upon a rotatable head @9, which is carried by the supporting structure lo. The die SS is eccentrically mounted upon the head 69, and is formed with an eccentric face li, which is arranged to contact the surface of the wire during the wrapping movement. As seen in Fig. 9, the wrapping die Se traverses the path indicated by the arrow so that it carries the end i8 of the Wire l i around three sides of the buckle forming die t5, forming` one side "i5 of the buckle, one end l'i, and the opposite side il. When the wrapping die F58 arrives at the position seen in Fig. 9 it has then accomplished its function and it is quickly returned to the position shown in Fig. 8.

Movement of this wrapp-ing die is accomplished by a rack 8B and a pinion 8l. .The pinion is mounted in the support structure lil and is integrally fixed, or forms a part of the head 69. For purposes of simplicity the teeth on the rack Sii are inclined at an angle so that they engage with the teeth on the pinion Si, which is positioned at the prop-er angle with respect to the wire l E to accomplish the proper wrapping movement. As seen in Fig. 10, the end 48 of the wire is bent laterally to some extent during this wrapping movement so that it will pass the end 65 as it is wrapped about the buckle forming die 45. It is for this purpose that the head 69 is inclined so that it does not rotate in the plane of the wire. Reciprocating movement of the rack 30 is accomplished by means of the arm 8 l which is pivoted to a crank 82. This crank is in turn pivoted to the base 3 at 83. Rocking movement of the crank 82 is accomplished by means of a roller 8/5, which travels in a groove 85. in arotating cam 86. The

groove t5 is so designed that it 'will accomplishv reciprocation ofthe rack Bil at the proper time interval so that the wrapping die S58 will carry the wire about the buckle forming die [i5 directly after it has been clampedin the vise iii.A Movement to the left of the rack 8i), as Vviewed in Fig. 2, causes the Wrapping die 58 to move in a clockwise direction and the reverse movement reverses the rotation of the die, so that it will return to its inoperative position.

The next operation in forming the buckle, after the end i3 has been wrapped to the position shown in Fig. 9, is to form the safety catch on the end t5. This operation is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein the end ii is bent laterally to form the safety hook 99. The end of the wire 65 must be supported in order to accomplish this bending movement and the buckle must be given its '.nal set by moving the end Q8 into proper position with respect to the side l5 and the end it. To

accomplish this, a hook-forming die 9i has been provided. This die is shown in cross section in Figs. i and ll and is provided with a groove 92, on one side thereof to engage the end'lit of the Wire il. This die Si moves vertically and is best seen in side elevation in Fig. l. This die di can not be positioned during the wrapping operation because it would interfere with the movement of the wrapping die B8. For this purpose the hookforming die is mounted to reciprocate in a vertical direction which reciprocation is caused by means of the arm 9d, which is pivoted at S5 on the frame of the machine. Rocking movement of the arm Sii is caused by an eccentric face 9% on the cam 97. This cam receives its power from the shaft 32 by means of the beveled gears 83 and 9, the latter of which rotates the shaft iii upon which the cam 9? is mounted.

The hook-forming die 9i is arranged to reciprocate through a suitable opening in the body 63 in a manner the same as the vise t. lt is to be understood that this forming die must be `of sturdy construction asV it must withstand the pressure of the dies which bend the wire into the formation of the safety hook, and it must maintain its nal position so that the hook will have the proper set.

It is, therefore, arranged to move downwardly against the end i8 of the Wire which has been Wrapped so that the end d8 will move into the groove 92. The parts in Figs. 10 and 11 show the die in this position. As stated heretofore, the hook-forming die 9i is subjected to considerable stress because the wire must be bent at a sharp angie. 'With this in mind the-head t9 of the wrapping die 68 has been so formed that when thel die il! moves downwardly it will almost contact the head E9. Then, when the pressure is applied in forming the hook, this hook-forming die 9| can move laterally a few thousandths of an inch so that the thrust against the die will be, in a major part, absorbed by the head E9, which has by this time returned the wrapping die to its normal position. y

The surface N35 ofthe hook forming die is designed with such a configuration that it will form a more or less gradual curve in the wire at |06 and with a sharp bend at lill. The hook Sie is so formed in order that the end i8 will move into the sharp bend it?. It has been found that a hook formed in this manner is of material advantage because the tension on the bale tie is applied to the side 15 and the side il This tension, when the pressure is released on the bale, pulls the end d8 into the sharp bend EN. l/Vith the bend Hl' positioned out of alignment with the end Hi8 the thrust on the side 7'! is absorbed by the bend lol, which is in direct alignment with the thrust. Other types of safety buckles have been devised heretofore wherein the sharp bend was in alignment with the end Illtiof the buckle, but these buckles were found to be unsatisfactory due to the fact that there was a moment arm available which tended to straighten out the hook of the buckle when it was applied to the bale tie.

For the purpose of forming the apex itil out of alignment with the plane of the end lili, a pressure finger ii@ has been provided, which is arranged for lateral movement transversely of the end E68. Fig. 10 shows this finger Ii@ moving into engagement to bend the end 55 of the wire about the'hook forming die 9i.

The pressure nger iiil is seen in plan view in Fig. 2 in its retracted position. This finger is arranged for reciprocation by means of the bell crank lever i i i, which is pivoted to the frame of the machine at H2. pressure inger carrier H3, at iid, and is provided with a roller M to engage an eccentric face i iii on the cam i il. A return cam or guard H9 is carried by the cam ill so that the pressure finger lli will be moved to retracted position after it has performed its function. The

This lever is pivoted to the cam ||1 is mounted on the shaft 32 which has Y been previously described. The pressure finger i8 moves the end 65 ofthe Wire into engagement with the hook forming die 9|, which is in turn moved a very small distance to abut against the head E9 of the wrapping die. In this manner a rigid support is provided tov withstand the thrust of the pressure finger IU and provideV for accurate positioning of the die to obtain a buckle which will be bent in the exact manner desired.

When the end S5 has been 'moved to Vthe Vposition shown in Fig. 10 it is then necessaryto Ycomplete the hook byV bending the Wire in the manner shown in Fig. 1. 'I'o accomplish this, a ram |23 has been positioned at the end of the Vmachine and is driven by the bell crank lever |2 l. This lever is pivoted to the frame at |22 and is driven'by the cam |23, which is fixed upon the Vshaft Ich. YA disc |24 carries the return or guard Vcam |25 so that the ram |2 will be retracted after'it has performed its function. An adjustmeent |26 is provided to arrange for accurate movement of the ram |20, which reciprocates through the guide member |21. The movement of the ram |26 is so timed that ity engages the end S5 of the wire immediately after the pressure finger and Vcompletes thefhookby bending the end of the wire Varound the hook forming die 9|, as seen in 11'. A supportfor the wire while pressure is being appliedY to this ram |20. is accomplished by the hook forming die 9| engaging the end .18 of the wire, which during the entire operation has beenwrapped around the buckle forming die 5. Itis to be understoodthat at this time the buckle is being completedfand is still firmly held between the buckle forming die Vandthe vise 5|). Proper set of the buckle to obtain theprecise configurationrdesired is 0b- Vtained at this time due to the timing of the parts,

becauseY the upper end 08 of theV buckle is firmly gripped between the vise 5i) and the buckle forming die 15. The portion of the endl |68 directly beyond that being gripped by `thevise isY against the underside of theabutment 66. The buckle forming ldie Eris inside of the buckle, as best Y seen in Fig. 9.. The'hookjforming die V9| is insertedbetween the hook 9|) and the inclined side AesY 'Il or end 48 or" the wire and this hook forming die is'so designed tha-tit will complete the wrap-V ping ni.,3vement ci` the sideY 'H and give it the buckle forming die 45 upon which theV buckle now hangs is retracted.y so that the buckle drops by gravity out of the machine.

It is to be understood that all of the parts are adjustable for wear and for different diameters of wire. so that buckles of different strength may be formed. The eccentric faces of the cams are so designed that the parts will have the proper timing and with machines in actual use it has been possible to deliver as high as one hundred twenty buckles per minute.

I-Iaving described the invention what is claimed 1. A bale tie buckle-forming machine including means to feed the wire from which the buckle is to be formed, means to cut off a length of wire, a four-sided buckle-forming core arranged to be moved beneath the cut off Wire, a vise tohold the wire against said core', a die arranged to be moved around the configuration of said buckle core to wrap one end of the Wire about three sides of said buckle core, a hook forming die to set said wrapped end, and means to bend the other end of the wire laterally of the plane of the buckle to forma safety hook, and means to' retract all of said dies and said core to release the buckle;

2. In a bale tie buckle forming machine, a Wire support, a revolving die head, a die thereon toV be revolved by said head around said support to bend the Wire about three sides of said support, a hook forming die, and a plurality of means to form the buckle hook about said hook forming die, said hook forming die being movable to give a set to the buckle and to be reenforced by said y die head. Y Y Y 3. In a bale tie buckle forming machine wherein a length of wire is cut off in the machine to V*form the buckle, a vise and a buckle forming core,

means to move said vise down on, the wire andV said core beneath the wire at a point intermediate Yits ends so that the wire is firmly held, a wrapping die arranged to be moved about the configuration of said core to form the body of the buckle from .one extending end of the Wire, and means to of the wire While the wire is held.

`thereafter form a safety hook from the other end 4. In a bale tie'safety buckle machine, a plurality of movable diesto bend the wire, one of said dies being movable about the configuration of one of said later mentioned dies to bend the 'l wire about three sides thereof and a pair of mov'- able dies around'which the wire is tobe bent by said rst kdies Whereby'the cornpletedbuckle'isY about three sides thereof, and a pair of Vmovable dies around which the wire is to be bent by said `first dies, one of said last dies being shaped to' the configuration of the buckle hook and positioned to abut one of said first movable dies to give the buckle the proper set.

6. A bale tie safety buckle machine of the chary acter described including a plurality of dies, and means to move all the kdies engaging the Wire during the buckle forming operation whereby the buckle is released by the dies `to fall by gravity from the machine, one of said dies being movable about the configuration of another of said dies to form at least three sides of the buckle.

7. In a wire bending machine, a core around which the wire is to be wrapped, a die arranged to bemoved about the configuration of said core I to bendY the wire about three sides of said core, a viseeto hold the Wire against said core, aV sta.-V

Vtionary abutment on the machine against which the free end of the wire will abut to relieve said vise of strain during the wrapping, and means to move said dies to release the buckle.

8. A bale tie buckle forming machine including Wire feeding means, a wire cutter, a reciprocatingV buckle forming die, a vise to clamp said wire in said machine against said forming die, a die arranged to be moved about the configuration of said forming die to bend one end of the Wire around said forming die in one operation, and a plurality of reciprocating dies adapted to engage the other end of said wire toform a hook thereon while the wire is held by said vise.

9. A Wire bending machine including, in, combination, a four sided die, means for positioning a length of wire against and across one side of said die, means to clamp the wire at such side with its ends freely extending away therefrom, means spaced from said die and adapted to move in a circle around the remaining three sides of said die to engage one of said free ends and wrap it around said three sides, means engaging said other free end for bending the same into a hook shape and means for actuating said several means.

10. A bale tie buckle forming machine including a buckle forming core of a conguration similar to the inside area of the buckle to be formed, means to feed a Wire into the machine, means to hold the wire against said core with its forward end in predetermined relation to said core, means moved about the conguration of said core to wrap the wire about three sides of said core in one continuous operation, and means to form a hook on the wire on a portion adjacent that which has been wrapped around the core in a plane to receive the wrapped end of the wire while said holding means retains said wire.

11. In a bale tie buckle forming machine, a buckle forming core over which the buckle wire is positioned, an abutment beyond the said core, against which the forward end of the wire abuts, a die arranged to be moved about the configuration of said core to engage the wire and wrap it about three sides of said core in one continuous operation, and means to clamp the wire against endwise movement during the forming operation by pressing the wire against said core.

12. In` a bale tie buckle forming machine, means to hold the wire which forms the buckle, a core, a wrapping die to wrap the wire around three sides of said core While it is held against said core by said iirst means, a die to move in between the ends othe wire when they are at right angles, a rounded surface on said die, and means to bend one end of the wire about said surface so that a hook will be formed which is oset from the plane of the buckle to receive the other end of said wire.

ALBERT P. J. VOIGT. LAWRENCE M. STILL. 

